Gender, computers and other school subjects among Japanese and Swedish students

Abstract This paper describes a study on gender, computers and other major school subjects. The sample consisted of 773 ninth-grade school students both from the municipality of Tokyo, Japan (204 girls and 266 boys) and from Stockholm, Sweden (144 girls and 159 boys). The measurement of gender-typing of computers and other major school subjects has been done on the basis of three dimensions: usefulness, aptitude and liking. The analysis focused upon the calculation of descriptive statistics and multivariate analysis of variance. In general, regardless of the country, males reported higher scores of usefulness, aptitude and liking to computers and more positive attitudes toward mathematics, and sciences than girls did. Girls consistently reported that computers, mathematics and sciences were the subjects which were less liked and languages the most liked. The persistence of gender differences in computers, despite a general rise in computer awareness, indicates a failure in the way gender issues are addressed and tackled in schools.

[1]  B. Collis,et al.  Cross-Cultural Comparison of Gender Differences in Adolescents’ Attitudes Toward Computers and Selected School Subjects , 1987 .

[2]  Alan Durndell.  The persistence of the gender gap in computing , 1991 .

[3]  Nira Hativa,et al.  Socioeconomic Status, Aptitude, and Gender Differences in CAI Gains of Arithmetic. , 1989 .

[4]  Mike Summers,et al.  Starting Teacher Training‐‐new PGCE students and computers , 1990 .

[5]  C. Kirkman,et al.  Computer experience and attitudes of 12‐year‐old students: implications for the UK National Curriculum , 1993 .

[6]  Jan-Åke Engström.  Science achievement and student interest : determinants of success in science among Swedish compulsory school students , 1993 .

[7]  Sara Dawn Smith.  Computer Attitudes of Teachers and Students in Relationship to Gender and Grade Level , 1987 .

[8]  Alan Durndell,et al.  Stereotyping in relation to the gender gap in participation in computing , 1988 .

[9]  Gita Z. Wilder,et al.  Gender and computers: Two surveys of computer-related attitudes , 1985 .

[10]  David P. Baker,et al.  Creating Gender Equality: Cross-National Gender Stratification and Mathematical Performance. , 1993 .

[11]  Jerry P. Becker,et al.  Proceedings of the U.S.-Japan Seminar on Computer Use in School Mathematics , 1992 .

[12]  Leslie J. Francis,et al.  The relationship between computer related attitudes and gender stereotyping of computer use , 1994 .

[13]  Inga Elgqvist‐Saltzman,et al.  Straight Roads and Winding Tracks: Swedish educational policy from a gender equality perspective , 1992 .

[14]  Vasilios Makrakis,et al.  Cross-Cultural Comparison of Gender Differences in Attitude towards Computers in Japan and Sweden. , 1992 .

[15]  S. M. Chambers,et al.  Gender-Based Factors in Computing Enrollments and Achievement: Evidence from a Study of Tertiary Students , 1989 .

[16]  Karin Sandqvist,et al.  Verbal Boys and Mathematical Girls‐‐family background and educational careers , 1995 .

[17]  Lily Shashaani,et al.  Gender-based differences in attitudes toward computers , 1993 .

[18]  Willem J. Pelgrum.  International research on computers in education , 1992 .

[19]  Joke Voogt,et al.  Computer literacy in secondary education: the performance and engagement of girls , 1987 .

[20]  A.K.C. Ottaway,et al.  Education and Society , 1976 .

[21]  T. Levin,et al.  Effect of Gender and Computer Experience on Attitudes toward Computers , 1989 .

[22]  Vasilios Makrakis,et al.  Gender and computing in schools in Japan: the “we can, I can't” paradox , 1993 .

[23]  E. Lage,et al.  Boys, girls, and microcomputing , 1991 .

[24]  Diana Moses,et al.  Teaching Methods and Time on Task in Junior Classrooms. , 1988 .

[25]  Anne Scott Soerensen.  The Question of Representation: research in gender and education in Scandinavia , 1992 .

[26]  Julia Wrigley,et al.  Education And Gender Equality , 1992 .

[27]  Vasilios Makrakis.  Cross-Cultural Gender Differences in Student Self-Efficacy: The Impact of Culture , 1992, IFIP Congress.

[28]  A. Russon,et al.  Making computer instruction accessible: Familiar analogies for female novices , 1994 .